watchOS 26 is Apple’s next release for its most advanced wearable operating system, bringing several enhancements to help you stay connected with friends while maintaining your overall health and well-being. Most of these updates will make Apple Watch even more intelligent with Workout Buddy and a more intelligent Smart Stack.
“Apple Watch is an indispensable companion for millions of people around the world, and watchOS 26 uses intelligence to offer an even more personalized experience. From a gorgeous new design, to Workout Buddy with Apple Intelligence, personalized music suggestions in the Workout app, and more intelligence in the Smart Stack and Messages, we’re excited about the many ways watchOS 26 will support each user in staying active, healthy, connected, and safe throughout their day.”
-David Clark, Apple’s senior director of watchOS Engineering.
watchOS 26 will support these existing Apple Watch models that can run watchOS 11, but there’s a catch. As with every watchOS release, watchOS 26 will required iOS 26 for pairing and setting up, and iOS 26 is supported on iPhone 11 and later, so both iPhone XR and iPhone XS are dropped in regards to setting up watchOS 26 for any compatible Apple Watch. The supported Apple Watch models when paired with an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 are:
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
watchOS 26 is currently available as a developer beta, but we should see a public beta sometime next month, and it will be publicly be available this fall.
We’ll continue to post WWDC-related announcements from here on out, so make sure to our website or follow us on X (@appleosophy) to stay updated with the latest Apple news!
